Lizzy and Darcy gave a full account of the hearing to Jane, Bingley, and Mary. They gave most details to their closest circle of friends, who promised to keep the knowledge to themselves. The rest of the student body only knew what information was public – that Ursus Malfoy had been condemned and disowned. After his appointment with the Department of Underage Magic, Malfoy had disappeared. No one had seen or heard from him.
"And you're sure there's no news from Hertfordshire?" Lizzy asked Bingley worriedly on Saturday morning.
"I would inform you immediately, Lizzy," said Bingley as he pulled his gloves on. "Either Reggie or Louisa has seen your parents every day since arriving at Netherfield over a week ago and say they are in perfectly good health."
"Do not borrow trouble, Lizzy," Jane suggested. "Are you sure you would not like to go to Hogsmeade with us? Some distraction might do you good."
"I'll be plenty busy here," Lizzy sighed. She and Darcy were to catch up on all the work they had missed while at the hearing.
Jane and Bingley headed out, and Lizzy began her journey to the unused tower where she and Darcy had agreed to meet.
Lizzy was greeted at her destination by a cheerful, "Good morning, Elizabeth!"
"I knew you must be up to something when you did not come down to breakfast," Lizzy said after absorbing her surroundings. All the dust that had danced and settled through the room was gone. The windows had been cleaned. A table sat in the corner, a small bookshelf beside it. A large rug dominated the floor.
"I thought our study space could do with a bit of care," Darcy explained. He suddenly looked nervous. "Do you like it?"
"Like it?" she asked, eyes lighting to tease. "How shall I ever distract myself from my work without the abundance of dust floating through the sunlight to occupy my attention?"
"I thought my sister's gift could provide ample distraction, when distraction is needed," said Darcy with a relieved smile. He walked over to the bookshelf and pulled a small box from it that Elizabeth had not noticed. It was filled with random cuts of ribbons and a few small balls.
"Well, then," said Lizzy with an exaggerated huff, "I suppose I am satisfied." Truth be told, she was much more than satisfied. She was filled with appreciation for the man before her that cared so very much for her happiness and comfort.
"I am glad to hear it," Darcy replied, understanding Lizzy's tease very well. "Have you brought your new friend?"
Lizzy reached into her pocket and pulled out her adolescent cat. "I left my robes on the floor last night and he crawled into the pocket. I didn't have the heart to take him out before, but he's awake now, so he might as well stretch his legs." She set the cat down, and she and Darcy passed a pleasant half hour teasing him with the toys Darcy had found.
"Have you chosen a name for him yet?" Darcy asked as he watched Elizabeth twitch a ribbon while the cat stalked it.
"I haven't been able to settle on anything," Lizzy answered after the cat had pounced. He was now delightedly batting at the vanquished ribbon. "Did Georgiana have a name for him, do you think?"
"I imagine that, if she did, it had something to do with his coloring or the pattern of his fur," Darcy answered.
Lizzy scrunched her nose. "Sir Grey does not fit him, I think."
"He has a title, does he?" Darcy asked interestedly.
"Oh, he must," Lizzy said seriously. "He came from a lord's house, after all."
"Technically, he came from under a bush in a park, but we can keep his true origins a secret, if you wish."
"How did my cat come to reside in your sister's room?" Lizzy asked with an arched brow.
Darcy wiggled his fingers for the cat's amusement for several moments before responding. "Georgiana had looked so happy with those kittens," he said finally. "I went back for them the very next day. I hoped they would make her smile. My aunt has since told me that Georgiana has benefitted greatly from having something to care for."
Lizzy smiled softly at receiving yet another reminder of just how well Darcy cared for his family and friends. "I imagine the kittens gave her something else to focus on."
"I also wanted to have them as a reminder of getting to see you again, and the somewhat positive note we ended on that day," Darcy admitted with a slight blush. "When you didn't fight me, when you looked after Georgiana for me, I was so hopeful that I might have a chance. I wanted those kittens for Georgiana, true enough, but I also wanted them because of you."
Elizabeth's own face warmed, and she quickly sought distraction. "Well, we have wasted a good forty minutes. I think we must start on some work now." She got up and made to pass by Darcy to get her bag, but he gently grabbed her wrist and stopped her progression.
"How are you feeling today, Elizabeth?" Darcy asked concernedly.
"I don't want to talk – " Lizzy started frustratedly.
"Please."
"There is not much change from yesterday," Lizzy mumbled, only able to resist Darcy's gentle encouragement for a few moments.
Darcy started rubbing his thumb in small circles on Elizabeth's wrist. "I will tell you every day for as long as it takes, Elizabeth. Malfoy's fate is not your fault. Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy's decision is not your fault. You have no guilt to bear."
"And I will tell you every day," Lizzy began, "that does not change what I feel."
Darcy sighed, then released her.
"Shall we start with Herbology, do you think?" Lizzy asked with a determinedly casual air.
The next week saw Lizzy's cat gain a name and a title in his own right: The Menace of Gryffindor Tower.
Phoebe had just finished a gruelingly long essay for Muggle Studies and was in the process of demanding everyone praise her accomplishment when Lizzy's cat had caught the edge of the paper on his claw, dragging it down to the floor with him. From there, the cat had managed to get the paper stuck on his paw and panicked. In the course of events that followed, a few people wound up with scratches to their shins and Phoebe's essay wound up consumed by flames.
"That beast is an absolute terror! A menace to society!" Phoebe had raged. "Get him out of my sight, Lizzy, or I just might throw him out the window!"
That was only the first of several incidents. The Menace delighted in hiding under random bits of furniture in Gryffindor Tower and waiting for people to pass by, then jumping out and latching onto their ankles just long enough to trip them before darting off to hide from any retribution. He also frequently flopped himself down on open books, regardless of whether those books were in use or not. If the owner of his latest bed attempted to remove him, Menace fought back quite forcefully. More than a few quills had been destroyed by his need to gnaw.
To appease her housemates, Lizzy banished Menace to the room she and Darcy frequently studied in, so he might annoy them only. She was not overly pleased about having to go out of her way daily to see to Menace's needs, but she enjoyed her time with the cat nonetheless. In opposition to his interactions with other humans, Menace was perfectly pleasant to Lizzy. He seemed content to simply lay in her lap, purr, and sleep while she worked.
"What has you so very concerned today, Darcy?" Lizzy asked as she and he made their way to Hogsmeade the following weekend.
"Nothing, Elizabeth," Darcy answered automatically.
Lizzy removed her arm from Darcy's and clasped her hands behind her back as a response.
"Fine," Darcy huffed, pulling Lizzy's right hand free from her left and setting it back on his arm. "I am not overly eager to see Richard, and I am sure he will be in attendance today."
"Oh, yes, Albert is looking forward to speaking with Major Fitzwilliam," Lizzy said. "He's talked of little else the past twenty-four hours. I think your cousin may be able to count him as his first victory as a recruiter by the day's end."
"Good. Bentham could use some discipline," Darcy snorted good naturedly.
"Don't think you've gotten out of offering your explanation," Lizzy warned.
Darcy clamped his arm to his side, effectively trapping Lizzy's own limb and preventing another escape. "This will be the first time I have seen Richard since we began courting."
"Oh?"
At the hint of insecurity in Lizzy's voice, Darcy hurried to assure her. "He'll be entirely pleased, I am sure. No, my concern is that he will do his utmost to hog you all afternoon simply to annoy me."
Lizzy laughed. "Albert did that last time and you had no objection."
"Bentham has a very different relationship to me than Richard," Darcy grumbled. "He can only annoy me vaguely. Richard, on the other hand, knows exactly how to push me to my limits."
"Did you not describe him as your closest confidante in all scenarios?" Lizzy asked. "Surely he is not so bad as you are making him out to be."
"Having only sisters, Elizabeth, you cannot understand the intricate relationships that exists between two males that have grown up together. It can sometimes be a very fine line between love and hate."
"That I can understand very well," said Lizzy.
"Perhaps so," Darcy conceded, "but the methods by which you and your sisters walk that line is vastly different to those employed by Richard."
"And you have no guilt in the matter?" Lizzy asked knowingly.
"Certainly not so much as him," Darcy objected.
"Well, perhaps it's time you give him a full dose of his own medicine," Lizzy suggested. "You are so reticent and intolerant I would imagine he wins simply by virtue of his endurance in the matter."
"Reticent and intolerant?" Darcy asked haughtily.
"Can you honestly deny it?" Lizzy asked. She patted his arm affectionately after allowing him a moment to think. "Your more amiable qualities make up for those deficiencies, in my opinion, at least."
"I will be well satisfied with that, then," Darcy readily conceded.
The pair chatted easily the rest of the way to the small town.
"Oh, I do need to go to the robe maker," Lizzy said upon catching sight of the store.
"What do you have in mind?" Darcy asked as he changed course. He rather hoped to get a better idea of the exact styles Elizabeth preferred, and perhaps even snatch a copy of her measurements. He would send the information to his own preferred robe maker so he could provide Elizabeth with the occasional random gift.
"Lydia's birthday is just a few days before Easter, and I mean to gift her with her first true set of robes," said Elizabeth. "I hardly think school robes count, and those that she has are not new, anyway."
"Are you not concerned she will lord it over Kitty?" Darcy asked as he held the door open.
"Kitty will have her own new things soon enough," Elizabeth said unconcernedly. "There is no longer such great competition between the two of them, anyway. And if Lydia does decide to be cruel about her gift, then I will take it back and hold on to it until we return to Hogwarts."
Darcy caught the information lurking behind Elizabeth's simple explanation easily enough. If Lydia were gifted a new set of robes at Hogwarts, she would be excited, but appropriately so. If, however, she received the new robes at Longbourn, old habits might resurface. Mrs. Bennet's influence could possibly reduce Kitty and Lydia to their former silly and shallow selves.
Darcy patiently waited and observed while Elizabeth looked through dozens of fabric samples. There were several that she lingered over before declaring they would not suit Lydia. Those he took special note of. After Elizabeth had chosen a fabric, she next sat down with the shopkeeper to decide on a design, then settled on a deadline and a price. Elizabeth declared herself quite pleased as they left the shop.
"Is this to be a joint gift from you and Jane?" Darcy asked as he started toward The Three Broomsticks.
"I intend to give the robes to Lydia one way or another, but I will invite Jane to take part in the purchase," Elizabeth answered. Darcy detected a hint of melancholy that Jane was not involved from the beginning.
"Does it greatly distress you, the growing independence of you and Jane?" Darcy asked gently.
Elizabeth smiled at a friend passing in the opposite direction. "This isn't exactly something I would like to discuss out in the open, sir," she said lowly.
"But we will discuss it?" Darcy prodded.
"If you'd like," Elizabeth answered noncommittally.
"I would," Darcy answered. They entered The Three Broomsticks and had been seated all of two minutes before Fitzwilliam plopped down next to Elizabeth.
"I have been told such delightfully exciting news and am so very pleased to see it in action!" Fitzwilliam said by way of greeting.
"Good morning, Major," Elizabeth said with a light laugh.
"How could you leave the seat just beside this beauty open, Darcy?" Fitzwilliam asked with an irritating grin. "I certainly would have sat right next to her, if I were in your shoes. In fact, I did just that."
Darcy rolled his eyes, feeling his patience draining already. As Elizabeth's feet settled lightly on top of his under the table, however, he remembered her recommendation and decided to fight fire with fire. "I thought it might be amusing to let you have the experience, only to rub it in your face that I was only allowing you to occupy my space later, whenever the mood might strike."
"Oh, ho!" Fitzwilliam said gleefully. "And what if it had been some other chap that sat himself here?"
"None would be so foolish," said Darcy lightly. He thanked the young witch that brought three butterbeers to the table, as he had ordered when he and Elizabeth sat. He had known it would only be a matter of time before Fitzwilliam appeared. "All others know that it is me Elizabeth has agreed to court, and so are wise enough to maintain their distance."
Fitzwilliam dropped his jaw theatrically and turned to Elizabeth. "You must not allow him to be so very controlling, Miss Bennet! My cousin may just lock you up and turn you into his own prisoner, if you are not careful."
Darcy felt a metaphorical knife twist in his gut. He carefully avoided showing just how much he was affected by the casual and accurate way Fitzwilliam had expressed what Darcy knew to be a great fear of Elizabeth's: being controlled and at the mercy of someone that did not have her best interests at heart.
Elizabeth pressed her feet reassuringly into Darcy's as she teased Fitzwilliam back. "Perhaps becoming a prisoner is all part of my grand scheme," she said, cocking an eyebrow. "Stranger things have happened."
"Grand scheme?" Fitzwilliam said interestedly. "Now you must tell me more."
"I have already said too much," Elizabeth countered. She sipped from her butterbeer and ignored further insistence that she divulge her plan.
"Have you seen Georgiana recently?" Darcy asked, wishing to draw his cousin's attention away from Elizabeth, if only for just a few moments. He was well aware that Fitzwilliam was much more socially able than himself, and he was not overly fond of the stubborn and haunting thoughts that, had Fitzwilliam attended Hogwarts, it very well may have been him that was courting Elizabeth, rather than Darcy.
"I did, just yesterday," Fitzwilliam readily answered. "Mother reports that she is starting to speak more. She even said a full sentence to me. Well, a full sentence as far as Darcys go, meaning three words strung together coherently."
Darcy drew his brows together in agitation. He did not like his sister's recovery to be the subject of any sort of joke.
"I was directed to ask after your new pet, Miss Bennet," Fitzwilliam said, smoothly transitioning his attention back to Elizabeth.
Darcy turned his mug several times as an outlet for his agitation. Fitzwilliam was so very easy in company. If Darcy had a fraction of his cousin's skill, he might have made a better first impression on Elizabeth and been able to enjoy her good opinion for several months longer than he had now. He might have been spared a great deal of pain.
When Albert entered the pub, Darcy was flooded with relief and quickly flagged the new arrival down. Albert soon demanded nearly all of Fitzwilliam's attention, and so Darcy was able to announce his intent to go with Elizabeth to Madam Puddifoot's for a few dances without fear of being followed by his cousin.
Fitzwilliam recognized Darcy's game, and so glared at him playfully before gifting Albert with his undivided attention.
"You are very tense, Darcy," Elizabeth quietly noted as they walked. She turned them away from Madam Puddifoot's and Darcy recognized her attempt to allow them more time to talk in some small amount of privacy.
"I warned you I might become so," Darcy replied. He was not overly eager to discuss his recent thoughts, but welcomed the chance to pull himself together a bit more before entering the crowded assembly hall. Third years and above were all at Hogsmeade this weekend.
"Will you tell me exactly what bothers you so?" Elizabeth asked gently. "I do not like to see you this way, especially as a result of interactions with your cousin. He was not so very terrible, was he?"
"Of course you would not think so," Darcy spat without thinking.
"And just what does that mean?" Elizabeth asked testily, her gentleness quickly abandoned in favor of her temper.
"You've always enjoyed a chance to talk with Richard. I imagine you rather looked forward to the occasions. Sought them out, even," Darcy answered sullenly. He recognized he was already in trouble and decided he might as well give himself a long rope from which to hang.
"What has gotten into you?" Elizabeth said frustratedly. "You cannot possibly be jealous of him!"
Darcy chose to scoff rather than give an actual response.
"You are!" Elizabeth exclaimed.
Darcy flinched as several people glanced their direction.
Elizabeth suddenly pulled Darcy down an ally, then stood before him with her arms crossed, looking as intimidating as she could in all her tiny glory. "I'll have your explanation now," she demanded.
"Elizabeth," Darcy began exasperatedly.
"No, sir," Elizabeth said firmly. "We will not allow our entire day to be ruined because of some silly misunderstanding! We have had enough of those already!"
Darcy sighed and hung his head. Hearing Elizabeth speak in the plural form was a great comfort to him, so he tightly closed his eyes and braced himself to reveal the truth.
"I am jealous," he admitted. "I've never been especially gifted at conversation, as you well know. Seeing you speak so easily with Richard, I cannot help but wonder if you would have chosen differently, had you been exposed to us both at the same time. I cannot help the fear that I would be your second choice."
Several moments passed in which nothing was said, and then Darcy felt a hand on his cheek. He turned into it without thinking.
"I speak easily with Fitzwilliam, true enough," Elizabeth said lowly, "but it is you, William, with whom I have chosen to speak freely. There have been various young men I have known that converse with a great deal of ease and finesse, and I have enjoyed speaking with them very much. But with you, I do not just converse. I confide. Even before we began courting, you knew me in ways others did not, figured things out about me that others had not. It took me a long time to recognize it, but I prefer discussion with you, and maybe that is because it does not come easily to you, and so I know you are making a very conscious effort to go beyond your level of comfort for me."
Darcy heard all of Elizabeth's speech, and he would remember it, but one thing stuck out above all others. "Say it again," he breathed.
"Which part?" Elizabeth asked sweetly.
"My name."
Elizabeth smiled gently, then impishly. "Darcy? I say it all the time!"
"My given name," Darcy groaned.
"If I were to start calling you Fitzwilliam, then I think there really would be issues with your cousin," Lizzy continued press mercilessly.
"Elizabeth, you are impossible!" Darcy said frustratedly. Yet, he insisted, "Say it again."
"Oh, but Darcy, you would not have me bow to your every whim now, would you?" Elizabeth teased. "It was my understanding you enjoyed a good debate, not that you wanted me as a prisoner. Was Fitzwilliam right after all?"
"There are times, Elizabeth, that I almost wish you were my prisoner," Darcy said fervently, grabbing Elizabeth and bringing her to him. At that moment, he very much wished to kiss her senseless, but his respect for her was greater than that. His beloved deserved an honest and pure first kiss that was desired by her as much as by him. Breathing heavily, he tucked Elizabeth's head under his chin and wrapped his arms around her small form.
"Have I managed to ease your discomfort?" came Elizabeth's muffled voice after a few moments.
"Yes," Darcy answered, his heart significantly lighter than it had been when they left The Three Broomsticks. "Would you like your dance now?"
"Very much," Elizabeth answered. She wriggled free, then grabbed Darcy's hand and pulled him back onto the street and toward the assembly hall.
Darcy was content to let himself be dragged along. Seeing Elizabeth bound down the streets of Hogsmeade, with a dance with him as her object, was something he would cherish and never grow tired of.
"Darcy!"
Elizabeth and Darcy both turned to see Albert running to catch up with them on the way back to Hogwarts.
Darcy felt his lips pull into a frown. He had rather hoped to have Elizabet all to himself for the entire walk back. She had again insisted they dance some sets with other people and, while he was not necessarily jealous, he would own he wanted more time with her.
"You've no need to sulk, Darcy," Elizabeth chastised with a smirk. "Albert is a friend, remember."
"Not at the moment," Darcy said lowly. He felt Elizabeth's chuckle more than he heard it, and so was able to hitch a smile to his face and greet Albert pleasantly. "Is there something I can do for you?" he asked after basic pleasantries.
"Indeed there is!" Albert enthusiastically replied. He held up an envelope with a Ministry seal. "I've just signed a preliminary agreement to join the Magical Military after graduating Hogwarts!"
"That's wonderful, Albert!" said Elizabeth with a warm smile.
Darcy shook Albert's hand and offered him congratulations.
"It's not all official just yet," said Albert. "I'll still have exams to pass, trainings to complete, and various other odds and ends."
"And I am to help you with one of those?" Darcy asked, coming back around to Albert's request for assistance. He began walking again, and Albert fell into step beside him.
"I've been given to understand you have a fair amount of skill with a blade," said Albert.
Darcy smiled slightly and shook his head. "Was it the Major that told you such?"
"You can't be surprised," said Albert.
"I simply wonder at his describing me as having only a 'fair amount' of skill," said Darcy. "I won't profess to be a true master, but I've certainly emerged victorious more often than not against Fitzwilliam."
"Was that before or after he joined the army?" Elizabeth asked with a raised brow. "Perhaps a rematch is in order."
Darcy snapped his head over to Elizabeth and tried to convey his emotions in his gaze. He well understood that she had chosen him, but that did not mean he was ready to be compared to his cousin by her.
Elizabeth let her brow fall and squeezed Darcy's arm in contrition. "Exactly what are you asking, Albert?" she inquired, poking her head forward to be able to see Albert around Darcy.
Albert had enough sense not to press the issue of Darcy and Fitzwilliam crossing blades after whatever wordless communication Lizzy and Darcy had just shared. Lizzy did not abandon her teases easily. "I was hoping, Darcy, that you might be willing to teach me some basics so I won't make a complete fool of myself in training."
"I am very willing to instruct you, Bentham," Darcy said genially. He rather enjoyed fencing and looked forward to the opportunity to exercise his skill. He had tried a few times to get Bingley to agree to go a few rounds, but Bingley had often been kept from engaging in such by his sister before winter holidays, and now spent so much time with Jane that Darcy thought he would not agree to separate from her.
"Fantastic!" Albert exclaimed. "Are you agreeable to beginning immediately?"
"Immediately?" Darcy repeated.
"Yes," said Albert. "Immediately, as in the moment we step through the gate to Hogwarts."
Darcy looked over to Elizabeth questioningly. They had not settled on any plans for the evening.
Elizabeth looked pleased to be consulted. "I shan't get in the way of Ministry business," she said easily. "I might suggest waiting until after dinner, though, Albert. Darcy can become terribly cross when he's hungry."
Darcy pressed his lips together and tried to look sternly at Elizabeth, but began chuckling when she laughed at his expression. "I threaten to eat Menace one time when he sits on my book, and you say such tendencies are a mark of my character!"
"Oh, it's not just you threatening to eat my cat, Darcy," Elizabeth said mischievously. "Who shall you believe, Albert? Will you wait until after dinner to start training? Or will you risk missing the meal?"
"I always dislike it when my instructors are especially short on their temper," said Albert with mock seriousness. "I think I can wait another hour to begin learning how to handle a sword."
"What did you mean when you said I become cross when hungry?" Darcy asked lowly as he and Elizabeth sat at Gryffindor's table.
"Just that, Darcy," said Elizabeth unconcernedly as she began putting things onto her plate, then onto Darcy's when he continued to stare at her.
"I do not become cross when hungry, or at least no more so than the next person," Darcy argued.
"Oh?" Elizabeth asked lightly. "Let's continue this discussion after you've had a few bites of food."
Darcy tried a few more times to get Elizabeth to elaborate, but she refused. Frustrated, he grabbed his fork and stabbed the green beans on his plate with unwarranted aggression.
"There!" Elizabeth exclaimed, pointing to Darcy's white-knuckled grip. "You see?"
"This," said Darcy, looking to his hand, "is not because I am hungry. It is because I am annoyed that you aren't answering my question."
"You normally enjoy it when I tease you," said Elizabeth smugly.
Darcy mumbled unintelligibly as he started cutting up the meat Elizabeth had served him. Josephine, Phoebe, and Zebulon joined them, and so he swallowed his complaints and focused his energies on attempting to be pleasant. After he had eaten nearly half of what was on his plate, he grudgingly admitted to himself that he felt better, but he refused to concede the point to Elizabeth, even when she cocked an eyebrow at him.
"How will you pass the evening, Phoebe?" Darcy asked after Josephine and Zebulon left to tend to prefect duties.
"I've got a letter from John to answer," Phoebe replied. "He's in the middle of his Grand Tour, you know. He's such a bore, though. Already, he's considering what work he'll find when he gets back. If I were him, I wouldn't spare one moment of thought for it. He was telling me he thought he might apply for a position in Magical Law while at a teahouse in Venice!" She rolled her eyes. "He's never known how to have fun. Ravenclaws," she said exaggeratedly.
"I can assure you, Phoebe, that Ravenclaws do know how to have fun," Darcy said lightly. He was impressed by himself, if he were to be honest. Though he had been courting Elizabeth less than a month, he found himself engaging in light-hearted teasing rather easily. "We simply sustain fewer injuries and make less of a mess during the process than you Gryffindors."
"The mess and the injuries are half the fun," Phoebe argued.
"I don't think continuing on this path of conversation will be productive," said Darcy. He ignored Phoebe's response on the predictability of Ravenclaws and turned his attention to Elizabeth beside him. "And you, Elizabeth? How shall you occupy yourself?"
"I intend to come with you," Elizabeth readily answered. "I think it will be highly amusing to see you playing the part of a teacher."
There was something in her voice that made Darcy think there was much more to Elizabeth's tease, but he felt warmed by it and smiled, eager to rise to the challenge. "Well, I would hate to keep you waiting. I am finished eating. Shall we find Albert?" he asked as he rose, then offered his hand to Elizabeth.
Elizabeth exchanged a goodbye with Phoebe, then took Darcy's offered hand. It did not take them long to find Albert and the small party made their way out to the grounds.
"Don't you need to go grab the foils?" Elizabeth asked.
"Do you think it would be wise to trust Bentham with a sword just yet?" Darcy came back with.
"I think I should like to take offense to that, Darcy," Albert declared dramatically.
"Make of it what you will," said Darcy lightly. He gave Elizabeth half a wink, causing her to stifle a laugh at her friend's expense. He felt his grin widen. He so loved when he could make her laugh. "Do you think Fang would mind if we borrowed a few of his fetching sticks?"
"I daresay he will find new ones," said Elizabeth. She looked through one of Hagrid's windows as they approached his cabin. "Hagrid must be out in the forest now. I'd be willing to bet Fang will come back with a brand new stick and forget all his others exist. No, I think we are quite safe."
Darcy examined the various sticks surrounding Hagrid's cabin before finally selecting a pair and handing one off to Albert. Elizabeth settled herself nearby and leaned back on her elbows to observe. Darcy did his best to devote the entirety of his attention to instructing Albert, knowing Elizabeth was watching very closely for whatever it was she hoped to see in him as a teacher.
After nearly an hour, Albert dejectedly stated he had to return to the castle to get cleaned up. He had a Hufflepuff prefect meeting to get to in Sprout's office.
"Well, Elizabeth?" Darcy asked, examining the spots where the bark on his stick had been damaged in his lesson with Albert. He did not quite think he could stomach looking at her while she pronounced judgement on what he was sure was a rather important test of some sort. "How did I fare as an instructor?"
"I think you did very well."
Darcy eagerly swiveled his eyes from his makeshift foil to Elizabeth, who was now standing just a few feet in front of him with a warm, contented expression. He relaxed his shoulders. Whatever it was she had been looking for, he had apparently shown it.
Darcy felt some amount of tension start to build back up in his muscles as mischief lit up Elizabeth's eyes. "What are you up to?" he asked slowly.
With very little warning, Elizabeth swooped down and grabbed the stick Albert had abandoned, holding it at the ready just as Darcy had walked Albert through doing. "Are you willing to attempt instruction with a much more challenging student?"
Darcy felt his face might pull in two from the strength of his grin. He came to a ready position, himself, and crossed his weapon with Elizabeth's. "I think I might be able to manage."
Darcy helped Elizabeth through many of the same things he taught Albert, though he certainly went about it differently. Feeling particularly adventurous, he settled himself directly behind Elizabeth and set her limbs at very exact angles, maintaining multiple points of contact throughout.
"Do you intend to use such methods on Albert, Mr. Darcy?" Elizabeth asked archly after Darcy set his chest directly against her back while adjusting her shoulders.
"Certainly not," Darcy answered lowly. "Some students require different approaches."
Elizabeth laughed and, patting his cheek affectionately, said she thought that had been enough for one night.
Darcy did not believe her to be offended by his actions, and so shrugged and tossed his stick back toward Fang's stash before holding his arm for Elizabeth to take. They were soon ambling back toward the castle.
Elizabeth released a contended sigh, and Darcy suddenly found he simply had to know.
"What was it, Elizabeth, that you were watching for while I worked with Bentham?" he asked. "What did you conclude?"
"I'm not sure I should tell you," Elizabeth answered impishly.
"Whyever not?" Darcy asked in mock outrage.
"I would hate to give you too many compliments in too quick a succession and have you return to that prideful shadow from over the summer," said Elizabeth airily. "I rather like this more open and friendly version of Mr. Darcy."
Darcy very purposefully dawned his mask of indifference, knowing how much it irritated Elizabeth when he did so and hoping to provoke her to a response. "If that is how you feel, madam, then I will not press you."
"And you call me impossible!" Elizabeth laughed. "Fine, Darcy, come out again and I will tell you."
Darcy smiled at his victory and looked at Elizabeth expectantly.
They had just stepped through the main doors when Elizabeth removed her arm from Darcy's and turned to face him.
"I have noticed a great many admirable traits in watching you interact with Georgiana and am well aware of the care you give her even when you are not near her," said Elizabeth with a soft smile. "I confess I was curious to see if you could show that same gentle persistence with others that are not on your level of understanding, and tonight I saw it with Albert. You explained things to him and gave demonstrations without being obnoxious, pompous, or condescending. You answered all his questions patiently and were genuinely pleased with his successes, even if they seemed small. It was very endearing."
Darcy's mind became somewhat muddled with the pleasure of hearing such praise from Elizabeth. He managed to grasp at enough lucidity to ask, "And has that brought you to a conclusion of some sort?"
"It has," Elizabeth answered. She leaned toward Darcy and said lowly in his ear, "You, Fitzwilliam Darcy, will make a most excellent father."
Darcy thought it rather a lucky thing that Elizabeth had darted off toward Gryffindor Tower before he could regain control of his limbs, because he was certain he would not have been able to refrain from kissing her after such a declaration.
Author's Note
Please accept my apologies for failing to update yesterday. Since the world has exploded into chaos, I am off work at the moment, and therefore my routine has been interrupted and I forgot yesterday was Monday. I'll update Thursday (hopefully).
I hope you enjoyed Lizzy and Darcy's bonding moments!
